Take care on roads during stormy weekend weather, say Essex County Council

Essex County Council is encouraging residents to take extra care on the roads today and Sunday, following news from the Met Office warning of possible thundery showers, heavy rain and very windy weather.

Essex County Councillor Rodney L Bass, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “It is always important to take extra care on the roads in bad weather. Leave sufficient time to travel and make sure your vehicles are prepared to deal with traffic disruption.

"Before setting off, check the latest weather forecasts and travel updates on local radio and online. If the forecast is for bad weather, only make journeys that are absolutely necessary.”

• Before travelling check the latest road and rail updates as there may be disruption and extended journey times may be experienced. Residents can check for the latest traffic updates by listening to local radio, or by visiting www.essex.gov.uk/highways, www.twitter.com/Essex_Travel and www.twitter.com/PreparedinEssex.

• If you encounter standing water, drive with care and slow down, particularly as the wash from vehicles travelling through water can flood adjacent properties or cause other vehicles to stall. Your brakes may also be adversely affected.

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• Where there is water on the highway such as a ford, this could be deep and should be avoided.

• If you are in an area where flooding has happened in the past, keep abreast of the current weather forecasts and log on to the website www.metoffice.gov.uk for the weather warnings for your area.

• Check the Environment Agency’s website to see if you are in a location which is at risk from flooding at www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

• Check that grills near you are clear of debris or obstruction. It is a landowner’s responsibility to keep watercourses free-flowing, unless known otherwise. DO NOT approach unsafe structures or fast-flowing water, even to clear blockages.

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Contact details for agencies that provide 24-hour advice and general guidance on flood issues can be found at on the Essex County Council webpage www.essex.gov.uk/flooding.

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Comments (4)

Take care on roads during stormy weekend weather, say Essex County Council

Howard Cháse says...4:00pm Fri 8 Aug 14

Steer well clear of Buttsbury Wash if it belts down with rain. Unless you're in a boat.....

Steer well clear of Buttsbury Wash if it belts down with rain. Unless you're in a boat.....Howard Cháse

Steer well clear of Buttsbury Wash if it belts down with rain. Unless you're in a boat.....

Score: 2

Audioman says...4:05pm Fri 8 Aug 14

Get out of Canvey then as the pumps will Not be turn on this saves money.

Get out of Canvey then as the pumps will Not be turn on
this saves money.Audioman

Get out of Canvey then as the pumps will Not be turn on this saves money.

Score: -1

Mikkel1 says...12:29pm Sun 10 Aug 14

Better to stay OFF the roads in order to avoid problems, unless an emergency.

Better to stay OFF the roads in order to avoid problems, unless an emergency.Mikkel1

Better to stay OFF the roads in order to avoid problems, unless an emergency.

Score: 0

Kim Gandy says...3:23pm Mon 11 Aug 14

No, I think I'll go out for a drive at the very height of the storm just for the hell of it..... not. Well here we are again being told the bl**din obvious - advice from a county council that turns a blind eye to obvious hazards like potholes, sprawling vegetation, recurring flood hotspots, traveller horses loose in the road, exploding caravans and to add insult to injury, flicking the off switch on the lights at midnight. Yeah, thanks for the advice Rodders.

No, I think I'll go out for a drive at the very height of the storm just for the hell of it..... not.
Well here we are again being told the bl**din obvious - advice from a county council that turns a blind eye to obvious hazards like potholes, sprawling vegetation, recurring flood hotspots, traveller horses loose in the road, exploding caravans and to add insult to injury, flicking the off switch on the lights at midnight.
Yeah, thanks for the advice Rodders.Kim Gandy

No, I think I'll go out for a drive at the very height of the storm just for the hell of it..... not. Well here we are again being told the bl**din obvious - advice from a county council that turns a blind eye to obvious hazards like potholes, sprawling vegetation, recurring flood hotspots, traveller horses loose in the road, exploding caravans and to add insult to injury, flicking the off switch on the lights at midnight. Yeah, thanks for the advice Rodders.

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